Razor blade holder



April 9, 1963 A. B. HITCHCOCK RAZOR BLADE HOLDER iled June 13, 1962 INVENTOR. HR THUR B. H/TCHCOCK H T TORNEY htates Unit This invention relates to cutting devices, and is di rected particularly to an improved safety razor blade holder to facilitate the use of an ordinary safety razor blade as a cutting tool.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a simple nazor blade holder enabling the use of such razor blades as inexpensive and sharp knives which can easily and safely be carried in the purse or pocket or work basket and which is especially suitable for delicate cutting operations requiring unusual accuracy, such as in sewing, cutting paper, paring corns and the like.

A more particular object is to provide a razor blade holder of the above nature comprising a pair of complemental plates adapted to clamp upon an ordinary double-edge safety razor blade against each face thereof, and having along one edge of each plate a marginal rib portion adapted to cove-r the cutting edges of the razor blade, and means to hold the plates, selectively, either with their rib portions in overlying position at one side of the holder for exposing the razor blade edge for use at the other side, or with their rib portions at opposite sides of the holder for covering and protecting the cutting edges at each side of the blade when not in use.

Another object is to provide a razor blade holder of the chanacter above described wherein the marginal ribs of the clamping plates, when in position for exposing a razor blade edge for cutting, provide a non-slip finger grip, facilitating accurate and safe use of the tool in cutting.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a razor blade holder of the above nature which can be simply and inexpensively made of either metal or a plastic material, which will be easy to use, and effective and longwearing in operation.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like parts throughout the sevenal views:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a razor blade holder embodying the invention, shown with a safety razor blade in place and having both cutting edges covered as when not in use.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the holder shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating how the top plate is lifted preparatory to rotating it 180 degrees to expose a blade cutting edge.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the top plate rotated 90 degrees to a half-way reversal position, to expose a blade cutting edge.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the holder and blade shown in the position of FIG. 4, indicating by the arrow the direction of rotary movement of the top plate.

FIG. 6 is an end view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the top plate in fully reversed position, for exposing one edge of the razor blade for use.

FIG. 7 is an end view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the par-ts in exploded relation.

FIG. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view, taken along the line 88 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view, in vertical cross-section, of the thumb nut which holds the plates in clamped relation.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, the numeral 10 generally designates a razor blade holder embodying the invention shown with a safety razor blade R clamped atent O "ice 2 therein, and comprising a base plate 11, a top plate 12, a thumb nut 13 and a conical coiled spring 14.

As is best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 5, 7 (and 8, the base plate 11, which is preferably stamped from flat metal stock, although it could also be of a molded synthetic plastic material, comprises a flat clamping face portion 15, about the same length as an ordinary double-edged safety razor blade, having riveted or otherwise aflixed thereto a central, upstanding threaded stud 16.

The clamping face portion 15, at each side of the threaded stud 16, and along its central longitudinal axis, is formed with a pair of round short protrusions 17 and 18 which, together with the stud 16 are adapted to be received within longitudinal central openings of an ordinary razor blade R, as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 8, for holding said razor blade in place.

As best illustrated in FIG. 3, one edge of the clamping face portion 15 of the base plate '11 is free and terminates somewhat short of the adjacent marginal cutting edge portion of the razor blade R, whereas the other side of said face portion 15 is integrally formed with a downwandly and upwardly-bent marginal rib 19, the outer edge 20 of which terminates a short distance directly above the adjacent cutting edge of the blade R to cover and protect the same.

The top plate 12 is of identical structure as the base plate 11 described above, except that instead of being provided with an upstanding stud 16 and protrusions 17 and 18, it is formed with a central circular opening 21 (FIGS. 7 and 8) and side annular openings 22 and 23 for receiving, respectively, the stud 16 and said protrusions 17, 18 as is best illustrated in FIG. 8.

The thumb nut 13 is receivable on the threaded stud 16 and is formed with a knurled turning head portion 24 at its upper end, extending into a reduced diameter cylindrical body portion 25 of such size as to pass through the central opening 21 in the top plate 12. An annular groove 26 (FIG. 9) is formed in the thumb nut 13 at the juncture of the head portion 24 and the body portion 25 thereof to receive and hold the smaller diameter end of the conical spring 14 which surrounds said body portion 25.

Operation As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8, the razor-blade R is held in clamped relation between the base plate 11 and the top plate 12 under the actionof the conical compression spring 14 which engages the underside of the thumb nut head 13 and the upper surface of the base plate 11. Since the marginal rib portions 19 and 20 of the base plate 11 and top plate 12 extend to opposite sides and thereby cover each edge of the blade R, the holder as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is then in condition of non-use or storage.

When it is desired to use the holder for cutting, it is only necessary to lift up upon the top plate 12, against the resilient force of the conical spring 14, so that the side openings 22 and 23 therein are clear of the protrusions 17 and 18 of the base plate 11, and then rotate said top plate circular degrees, as indicated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, so that the marginal rib portions 19 of said plates will both lie along the same side of the holder, whereupon a cutting edge of the blade will be exposed as best shown in FIG. 6. In this connection, it is to be noted that the height of the protrusions 17 and 18 of the base plate 11 is substantially less than the length of the body portion 25 of the thumb nut 13.

As shown in FIG. 6, the aligned marginal ribs 19 of the base plate 11 and top plate 12 together form a longitudinal finger grip of increased thickness, facilitating the grasping and manipulation of the holder in use. When one cutting edge of the blade R becomes dull, it is a simple matter to lift said blade over the protrusions 17 and 18 in the base plate 11, and turn it 180 degrees independently of the top plate 12 to expose the other cutting edge for use. Replacement of the razor blade R can readily be effected by removal of the thumb nut 13, and separation of the holder plates, as illustrated for example, in FIG. 7.

While there has been disclosed in this specification one form in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that this form is shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not limited to the specific disclosure, but may be modified and embodied in various other equivalent forms without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent is: p

1. In a holder for a double-edged lapertured razor blade, a base plate having a substantially rectangular clamping face portion and a central upstanding threaded stud member, a. top plate having a substantially rectangular flat clamping face portion and a central aperture fitting over said'stud member, a thumb nut mounted on said threaded stud for holding the face portions of said base plate and said top plate in face-to-face clamping engagement with a razor blade located therebetween, said base plate and said top plate each having a straight arched rib portion extending long one side edge thereof and terminating in spaced adjacent relation with the edge of said razor blade, said nut serving to hold said plates with their arched rib portions thereof parallel and either at the same side of said razor blade for exposing the other cutting edge thereof and forming a loop-shaped handle for said blade holder, or at the opposite edge of said razor blade for covering both cutting edges thereof when out of use.

2. A razor-blade holder as defined in claim 1, including a pair of short end studs upstanding from said base plate, said top plate having a pair of apertures in \alignment with and adapted to fit over said end studs for constraining a clamped razor'blade against relative rotary motion with respect to-said base plate.

3. A razor blade holder as defined in claim I1, wherein said thumb nut and threaded stud are substantially longer than the height of said short end studs to permit said top plate to be lifted free of said end studs and rotated 180 degrees with respect to said base plate without moving said razor bhade.

4. In a razor blade holder for a double-edged razor blade, the combination comprising a base plate having a substantially rectanguilar clamping face portion, a top plate having a substantially rectangular clamping face portion, means for holding the clamping face portions of said base plate and said top plate in face-toface clamping engagement with the double edge razor blade, said base plate and top plate each having a marginal rib portion extending along one edge thereof and terminating in spaced, overlying relation to an edge of the razor blade clamped therebetween, said holding means serving to selectively maintain said plates so disposed that the marginal rib portions thereof are parallel and either at the same side of said razor blade for covering only one cutting edge thereof, or at the opposite sides of said razor blade for covering both cutting edges, resilient means for urging said clamping face portions in face-to-face relation, and means for constraining a clamped razor blade against relative rotary motion with respect to said base plate.

5. In a razor blade holder for a double-edge razor blade, the combination comprising a baseplate having a substantially rectangular clamping face portion, a top plate having a substantially rectangular filat clamping face portion, means for holding the clamping face portions of said base plate and said top plate in face-to-face clamping engagement with said double-edge razor blade, said base plate and said top plate each having a marginal rib portion extending along one edge thereof and terminating in spaced, overlying relation to an edge of the razor blade clamped therebetween, said holding means comprising means for selectively holding said plates so disposed that the marginal rib portions thereof are parallel and either at the same side of said razor blade for covering only one cutting edge thereof, or at the opposite side of said razor blade for covering both cutting edges, said holding mechanism comprising a threaded stud member extending upwardly from the center of the clamping face portion of said base plate, said top plate having a central opening for receiving said stud member, a thumb nut threadedly received on said stud and having a head portion and a reduced diameter cylindrical body portion, said opening being large enough to receive said cylindrical body portion, and a compression spring surrounding said cylindrical body portion and constrained between the underside of said head portion and the outside of the face portion of said top plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,418,189 Kimball May 30, 1922 1,669,711 Kanter May 15, 1928 2,257,314 Shinn Sept. 30, 1941 2,632,247 Harbison Mar. 24, .1953 3,047,946 Lins Aug. 7, 1962 

1. IN A HOLDER FOR A DOUBLE-EDGED APERTURED RAZOR BLADE, A BASE PLATE HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR CLAMPING FACE PORTION AND A CENTRAL UPSTANDING THREADED STUD MEMBER, A TOP PLATE HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR FLAT CLAMPING FACE PORTION AND A CENTRAL APERTURE FITTING OVER SAID STUD MEMBER, A THUMB NUT MOUNTED ON SAID THREADED STUD FOR HOLDING THE FACE PORTIONS OF SAID BASE PLATE AND SAID TOP PLATE IN FACE-TO-FACE CLAMPING ENGAGEMENT WITH A RAZOR BLADE LOCATED THEREBETWEEN, SAID BASE PLATE AND SAID TOP PLATE EACH HAVING A STRAIGHT ARCHED RIB PORTION EXTENDING LONG ONE SIDE EDGE THEREOF AND TERMINATING IN SPACED ADJACENT RELATION WITH THE EDGE OF SAID RAZOR BLADE, SAID NUT SERVING TO HOLD SAID PLATES WITH THEIR ARCHED RIB PORTIONS THEREOF PARALLEL AND EITHER AT THE SAME SIDE OF SAID RAZOR BLADE FOR EXPOSING THE OTHER CUTTING EDGE THEREOF AND FORMING A LOOP-SHAPED HANDLE FOR SAID BLADE HOLDER, OR AT THE OPPOSITE EDGE OF SAID RAZOR BLADE FOR COVERING BOTH CUTTING EDGES THEREOF WHEN OUT OF USE. 